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Mick Grant and the exploding tyre?


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#1 Robin127

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Posted 22 March 2012 - 18:47

The members on this forum are all familiar with the Barry Sheene incident at Daytona in 1975 when his Dunlop tyre burst. Am I correct in thinking that a very similar thing happened to Mick Grant either later that year or early the following year. If my memory is not playing tricks on me I believe it happened at the Ontario circuit during practice on a 750 Kawasaki and it also involved a Dunlop tyre.

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#2 picblanc

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 17:11

New one on me Robin, dont remember that? do remember him throwing himself off @ Stowe corner after winning 2nd? leg of F750 race 1976? supposedly with a deflating tyre I recall?

#3 tonyed

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Posted 23 March 2012 - 18:49

New one on me Robin, dont remember that? do remember him throwing himself off @ Stowe corner after winning 2nd? leg of F750 race 1976? supposedly with a deflating tyre I recall?


We shared a garage with Mick at Daytona in 1981(2) when he was on the Yoshimra Suzuki. Wasn't a tyre that let go but a conrod (after a piston seizure during qualifying) and the famous photo of 'Frying tonight' as the rod let go and punched a hole in the cases, ignited a the oil and Barbeque time.

#4 TZYAM

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 14:31

We shared a garage with Mick at Daytona in 1981(2) when he was on the Yoshimra Suzuki. Wasn't a tyre that let go but a conrod (after a piston seizure during qualifying) and the famous photo of 'Frying tonight' as the rod let go and punched a hole in the cases, ignited a the oil and Barbeque time.

You are correct Robin, I think Mick talked about it in his colum within the Motorcycle Racing Mag at the time, I think he said it was as fast as Sheene's crash but the weather was wet and he slid for a considerable length of time but did not break anything.

Ivor

#5 Robin127

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 17:47

Maybe the next time Chris sees him he can ask.


#6 fastfitter

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 18:24

New one on me Robin, dont remember that? do remember him throwing himself off @ Stowe corner after winning 2nd? leg of F750 race 1976? supposedly with a deflating tyre I recall?



Was that the time he stuck a road cone on his head as a 'dunce' cap? I was at Copse so missed it but saw it in MCN IIRC.


#7 Paul Collins

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 19:24

Was that the time he stuck a road cone on his head as a 'dunce' cap? I was at Copse so missed it but saw it in MCN IIRC.


Thats the one, and yes a photo exists somewhere, I remember seeing it years ago.

#8 joeninety

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Posted 24 March 2012 - 20:24

Posted Image
By joeninety at 2012-03-24

Pencil drawing by bike mad artist Chris Elliott

Mick is coming over again soon to see dad.

#9 Macca

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Posted 25 March 2012 - 12:36

I've got Mick's autobiography (bloody good read - highly recommended) and it was indeed the 1975 Ontario 200 when he had the back tyre blow and was lucky to get away with bruises.

Paul M

#10 Robin127

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Posted 29 March 2012 - 01:53

I've got Mick's autobiography (bloody good read - highly recommended) and it was indeed the 1975 Ontario 200 when he had the back tyre blow and was lucky to get away with bruises.

Paul M



Thanks, so I didn't imagine it :p

#11 Hasselhoff

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Posted 30 March 2012 - 05:54

the Barry Sheene incident at Daytona in 1975 when his Dunlop tyre burst

Sorry to be pedantic but I thought it was Sheenes tyre rubbing and chunking up which eventually locked the wheel solid rather than the tyre bursting?

Edited by Hasselhoff, 30 March 2012 - 05:54.


#12 philippe7

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Posted 30 March 2012 - 06:09

I've read various theories..... some say the tyre delaminated, some say it "swoll" ( to swell - swoll - swollen ? ) under heat and pressure and locked inside the swingarm , some say one of the chain tensioners somehow broke and the wheel axle loosened itself and the whole wheel twisted sideways inside the swingarm and locked itself.....

#13 Russell Burrows

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Posted 30 March 2012 - 08:19

I've read various theories..... some say the tyre delaminated, some say it "swoll" ( to swell - swoll - swollen ? )


Swelled.


#14 larryd

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Posted 30 March 2012 - 13:13

Swelled.


Or, in certain parts of Belfast, "swole" as in "swole up".

Seriously!!